Looking Forward to Being Utterly Outrageous “Aging seems to be the only available way to live a long life.” - Author Kitty O’Neill Collins I have a birthday coming up. I’m long past the age where I’d count the days to celebrating with a party, presents, and cake … though I still look forward to the cake. Chocolate, please. Yes, I admit it. I still look forward to my birthday. For dinner out and away from the kitchen, if nothing else. “Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest.” - Author Larry Lorenzoni And they’re a marker of how I’ve spent my time on this planet. I can remember every year and how I, the world, and the people have changed with the times. My character is testament to how I’ve handled life. My face reflects how I’ve dealt with all the things that I’ve experienced. “Nature gives you the face you have at twenty; it is up to you to merit the face you have at fifty.” - Fashion designer Coco Chanel Attitude is our outlook on life. It’s how we’ve managed the ups and downs and whether we’ve been defeated by setbacks or made all that much stronger by them. It’s whether we see the glass as half full or as half empty. Whether we only see that gathering clouds or consider the rain and occasional silver linings they bring. And if we can see humor in everyday events. “You don’t stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing.” - Playwright George Bernard Shaw So I have another birthday approaching. It’s not a big number. Definitely nothing to get my panties all in a wad over and bemoan the passing years. It’s just another tick mark on the wall of my counting, one that I don’t need to stress over. Because I’ve decided that age is a matter of attitude. OK, that’s easy for me to say right now, as I’m in top physical shape and feel as on top of my game as ever. I’m still a long way from geezerhood, but I know there’ll come a day when I’ll find myself creaking a bit and struggling to do what used to come effortlessly. And when I do, I’ve decided that I’m going to make the most of it. I want to be the little old lady from Pasadena, living life to the fullest. I want to be the most interesting character in the knitting circle (not that I knit … right now), the older neighbor that you actually enjoy talking to. In fact, I want to have fun and be my most authentic self. “Old age is an excellent time for outrage. My goal is to say or do at least one outrageous thing every week.” - Activist Maggie Kuhn Elder years give unsaid permission for behavior and attitudes that may not have been possible before. You can get away with saying things that you never would have been able to before. Have you noticed how some of the most beloved eccentrics in literature, film, and TV are the elderly? They often say the things most others are thinking, but would never dare voice. They wear whatever they darn well feel like, sleep whenever they want, and live life on their own terms. “At age 20, we worry about what others think of us. At age 40, we don’t care what they think of us. At age 60, we discover they haven’t been thinking of us at all.” - Advice columnist Ann Landers How funny to realize that most people are just so wrapped up in their own lives that they’re not constantly judging us after all! Ann Landers has it right: we are more comfortable with ourselves as we move into mid-life. Confidence replaces the hesitation and uncertainty of youth when we ‘re worrying about fitting in within our peer group. We come to terms – and peace - with our personal strengths and weaknesses and hopefully the decisions we’ve made up to that point. Later still, we relax even more into our own authentic selves, reclaiming our individuality more strongly than since we were children and taught to be self-conscious and self-disciplined. Saying what we really think may or may not get us into trouble. It may endear us to certain people and isolate us from others. A social filter is still a good thing to keep in place, knowing the fine line between what’s appropriate to share in public and what’s definitely not. Otherwise, while some people may find you quaint and amusing, others may rack it up to dementia. And you really don’t want to go there. “Aging is not ‘lost youth’ but a new stage of opportunity and strength.” - Activist Betty Friedan If life’s been good to you and you’ve been able to plan well and retire comfortably, your elder years can be the best of your life. It’s a time to travel and learn new things, explore interests and hobbies that you didn’t have time for earlier, or discover latent talents that you never knew you had. “Your 40s are good. Your 50s are great. Your 60s are fab. And 70 is f*@king awesome!” - Actress Helen Mirren Not only can you have fun on your own, but it’s a great time to spoil your grandkids (or nieces or nephews) like you never did with your own children. Yes, go ahead, sugar them up, wear them out, and then wave a cheerful good-bye as you leave them for their parents to deal with. Think of it as instant karma for all those times your own kids provided you with rather challenging moments. Ha! Serves them right.  “Aging is an extraordinary process where you become the person you always should have been.” - Singer-songwriter David Bowie It’s time to appreciate the little things in life again, like the sweetness of each season, long walks with special people and longtime friends, and the play of children. It’s time to slow down your pace and enjoy meeting new people. It’s an opportunity to volunteer your knowledge, skills, services, and wisdom for the benefit of others. It’s time to unfold your true essence and share yourself with those wise enough to appreciate the value of what’s being offered. “The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected.” - Poet Robert Frost If we’ve matured as we’ve aged, we have a lot to offer younger people, should they be open to receive it. Some retirees become active in their religious institutions, as students, lay leaders, or volunteers. There’s more of a focus on the spiritual and exploring the richness of spirit than on the demands of family and work. “My physical body may be less efficient and less beautiful in old age. But God has given me an enormous compensation: my mind is richer my Soul is broader and my wisdom is at a peak. I am so happy with the riches of my advanced peak age that, contrary to Faust, I would not wish to return to youth.” Author Robert Muller While physical aging isn’t something most of us look forward to, there’s plenty else in compensation. And as long as we’re not plagued with pain, illness, or disability, our elder years can do little to slow us down. “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” - Author Mark Twain A famous quote – perhaps the best known of all – is that: “ Age isn’t a number, it’s an attitude. “ Guess what? There is scientific evidence to support that very thing. Researchers from Yale and Miami University (my alma mater!) determined that people who saw growing older as something positive lived seven and a half years longer than those who didn’t. Becca Levy at the Yale School of Public Health showed that putting a more positive spin on our general view of aging can make a profound difference in the health of people over 65. Poet & playwright Robert Browning shared this positive attitude: “Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be.” Besides, what choice do you have?! “Old age isn’t so bad if you consider the alternative.” - Actor & singer Maurice Chevalier So here's to birthdays! Now, bring on that chocolate cake....

Paying Opportunity Forward Within my theatrical agency, I’m one of the go-to people for voice over. This has especially been the case this past year when pretty much everything else in the entertainment industry ground to a halt. Yes, VO took a bit of a hit in the spring of 2020, but over the summer it bounced back strongly, while on-camera productions continued to languish. Not surprisingly, many actors who were thrown out of work were very seriously looking into VO as a possible expansion to their careers. I like being a resource. During Covid, at the request of my agency, I gave a few webinars introducing actors to VO work and how to get started the right way: avoiding the traps that many new VO talent fall into, particularly the scamsters who are always out to take advantage of the uninformed. Many of the suggestions I gave eventually became a series of six articles in my blog under Resources. (They’re still there, if you’re curious about VO yourself.) And I’ve been regularly adding my two cents in the relevant Facebook groups when actors, both within and outside my agency, ask questions about the business. I’ve even worked directly with a few folks who were recording their VO auditions on their phones and needed help with their sound quality or proper formatting of their auditions. Most people do like to help others. There’s something intrinsically within us that rewards us with a bit of happiness when we do something nice for someone else. It can be as simple as answering a question or providing directions, to full-on mentoring of someone who’s coming behind you on the same career path. And most of us appreciate being helped. So useful to know how to apply our efforts most productively, to understand the steps others have taken to become successful! While these opportunities to help others pop up in our everyday lives, most of us think of mentoring in career terms. It doesn’t even have to be a well-defined, full-on mentorship program! It can be as simple as helping another person from one place (where they may be stuck) to the next through advice, introductions, or sharing of resources. I still fondly remember those who went out of their way for me when I was first getting started in my business career. Their little suggestions, tips, and even warnings saved me a lot of time and trouble. They may not have thought twice about them, but they meant the world to me when I needed them most. And I found it most gratifying when I could help someone else, in turn. Early in my corporate days, I was asked by our manager to guide a young woman just a year out of college to looking and acting more professional. Honestly, I was hesitant, because the request didn’t come from her and most women wouldn’t care for unsolicited advice from a co-worker. Fortunately, he must have suggested that she have a talk with me, because she eventually approached me and asked for ideas about a new hairstyle. From there, we discussed appropriate hair, makeup, clothing, and business etiquette – things I’d picked up over the years along the way. She adapted, the manager approved, and she was eventually awarded with a promotion. I felt good, knowing that in a small way I had helped her along her career path. More recently, I’ve been asked and given guidance to other women who, like me, decided to pursue an acting career later in life, usually after kids are grown or at least more independent, or in retirement. It’s been a great way to begin new friendships and it’s been so gratifying to see them make progress in their training and accomplishments. The same is true for voice over. Many of those conversations actually begin while I’m on set with another actor or a crew member. I love talking about VO and sharing the names, websites, and podcasts of more experienced and well-known talent who offer classes, coaching, and other resources. The appreciation from the other person reminds me of how much I valued the time that others took to do the same for me when I first began. It’s also a bit of paying forward the incredibly valuable coaching and career advice that some of my favorite teachers have given to me over the years. Sometimes, it’s the personal advice or heart-to-heart talks that can make all the difference in someone’s life. I love talking with younger women about the challenges that they face in the workplace, whether it’s in the entertainment industry or other workplace. I’m dismayed at hearing stories of sexual harassment or unwanted attention thrust upon them, especially in the business environment where I thought much more progress had been made since “my day.” At least there seems to be less criticism of women who are forthright and confident in their work. When I was in the trenches, it seemed that women were forever managing the balance between appearing assertive vs. aggressive. It’s the old joke: 51% sweetheart. 49% bitch. Don’t push it. Pay it forward is an expression for describing the beneficiary of a good deed repaying the kindness to others instead of to the original benefactor. - Wikipedia The idea of paying something forward has been around for a long time, but the phrase entered the popular lexicon from Catherine Ryan Hyde's 1999 novel Pay It Forward , which became a movie of the same name in the year 2000. The story is about an 11 year old boy who devises and puts into action a charitable plan of networking good deeds to change the world for the better. It's similar to the Jewish concept of "tikkun olam," which literally means to repair the world through good deeds or mitzvahs. And helping another person, such that you are both smiling and feeling positive about it, goes a long way to making the world a better place.

Encouraging the Marathon Runner One of the most difficult aspects of being an actor is the general lack of feedback during the audition process. It doesn’t matter if it’s for film and television or for voiceover work. An actor rarely hears anything, except when he’s booked a job. Actors know this, of course. We know that it’s a long journey filled with rejection. It’s hard to find even the biggest stars who don’t have a litany of rejections from early in their careers. It’s all part of knowing that an acting career is “a marathon, not a sprint” and that a “no” today for one project could be a “yes” tomorrow for another. Still, it’s nice when someone takes the time to provide useful critiques or even encouragement. This is very rare from someone other than an acting teacher, coach, or agent! But when someone close to production, an agent, or a client takes the time to send a note, well, that’s something different. Just this evening, a voiceover friend surprised me by saying that his wife was the casting director and producer of a short film for which I had auditioned and received a callback. I had had no idea, as his wife used her professional name and he wasn’t part of the auditioning process. I knew that I was on the shortlist, but when I didn’t hear back from them after the callback, I had assumed that the part had gone to someone else. This evening, though, he told me that he had been in the background observing the auditions and callbacks, and that both he and his wife had liked my performance very much. Ultimately, his wife had chosen another actress because she thought that the role called for an older performer who could more believably play the part. Rather than being disappointed – I had since moved on to other auditions and other bokings – I felt quite gratified. Here was validation of the quality of my work. That I hadn’t been cast for this particular project was due to factors beyond my control. This is often the case. Ideally, once the audition process reaches the callback stage, each of the performers is there because the producers could see any one of them in the role. Outside circumstances then can come into play. Aside from the performances themselves, the casting director and producer take into account things like chemistry between the actor and other, already cast, players. Appearance plays a huge factor, too, especially in ensemble pieces. Which potential cast members look like they could be family members? In a group of friends or co-workers, does each person have a unique look? An actress may not be cast, no matter the quality of her work, if she looks too much like the lead. Or reminds the producer of his ex. Don’t smirk. It happens! Unexpected encouragement comes from the voiceover world, too. Very early on in my career, almost immediately after I had been signed with my first agent, I learned that I – as a newbie – had been one of the top three choices for a major VO commercial. The client did decide to go with one of the two other talents, each of whom had long resumes and many years of experience. My agent, though, said that this was in his opinion a win and that we should both be very proud of that achievement. Well, I certainly was pleased to hear how well my audition was received – mostly because it came from my new agent for whom I had the highest respect. And today, I received a very nice email from a production company that had recently sent me an audition for one of their clients. They didn’t need to take the time to write the note, but they did, explaining that the client chose another talent, but that they had truly liked the reads I had submitted. It reminded me of a previous time when an agency owner went out of his way to say that he wanted to add me to his talent roster, even though his client had chosen a different actor for the job. Again, while I didn’t book the project, I still felt like I had a small win because my work stood out and was well received. They're rare, but other actors and I do see these encouraging notes from time to time. While non-actors may read this and think “well, so what, you didn’t get the job” and write it off, actors know it’s only one opportunity among many to come. After all, we audition for far more jobs than we know statistically we’ll book. We understand that just because we weren’t the best fit for a particular role doesn’t mean that we won’t be for the next role they need to cast. And we're aware that when casting directors keep calling us in for projects, it’s because they know that we can do the job and do it well. It’s positive feedback, an “atta-boy” and a slap on the back, all rolled into one. We all need it, regardless of the careers and industries in which we work. Positive performance reviews (and raises and bonuses!) made my day when I worked in corporate IT sales. Kind words and support from close family members and friends are appreciated now and always, especially on tough days when nothing seems to go well. And extending those positive vibes, encouraging and supporting other people, make us feel better about ourselves, too. So keep at it. When you notice someone has done a good job, let them know. When you see someone who could use a boost to their spirits, show them you care. As long as it’s honest and comes from the heart, it will be gratefully received. And who knows? You just might make someone’s day all that much brighter.

Penpals Reimagined In the Age of COVID As a kid, I loved having pen pals. It all started when I was twelve and picked up an issue of “Teen” magazine. I felt so grown up. Here I was, not yet officially a teenager, reading a magazine for cool teens! This first issue was a very special one, too. Among the articles dealing with fashion, hair styles, and makeup tips (not that I was allowed to wear any), was an opportunity to have a real, live pen pal. Someone who lived so far away that we’d probably never meet, another girl living in an exotic locale. At least, exotic to a twelve year old growing up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. The match up was to be with a girl about my own age in Hawaii. Wow, Hawaii! I was already envisioning my new friend, a smiling girl with long, silky black hair dancing the hula under the palm trees. I couldn’t wait to find out about her life and all the adventures she was enjoying. Certainly nothing as boring as my suburban middle class existence. I filled out the form with my name, age, and address, and mailed it to the magazine, wondering what I could possibly say about Cleveland that would be of any interest to a girl living in paradise. Some weeks later, I found out I was matched up with a twelve year old girl named Ona. What an exotic name! I was surprised, though, to see that she had red hair, light skin, and freckles. Not what I had imagined at all. Oh, I came to understand, her father was in the military and Hawaii was where they were currently stationed. No problem! In no time at all, we were off and running, becoming the best of distanced friends. We stuffed our envelopes full of pages in which we wrote all about ourselves and our families, colorful pages that were decorated with stickers and little hand drawings. We’d send little gifts to each other and share our lives, which surprisingly weren’t all that much different from each other. We actually corresponded all throughout school, even as I picked up (and dropped) other penpals from around the world. I loved receiving mail! Back then, my parents told me to enjoy it, as there’d come a day that all I could look forward to receiving in the mail would be bills. I did enjoy it, especially when those letters (and occasionally packages!) began arriving from England, Australia, and both coasts of the U.S., as well as Hawaii. My biggest dilemma, after figuring out how to mail international packages, was trying to figure out what I could send from Cleveland that could possibly impress my international friends. What was Cleveland known for back then? A river that caught fire. An old industrial city that had seen better days. Pollution and too many wintry grey skies. It wasn’t easy, especially when my Australian friend sent great gifts like a toy stuffed koala bear and a real boomerang (which, believe it or not, I think I still have somewhere). As we all moved through our teen years, those penpals naturally fell away, but I’ve thought about them recently during this year of the pandemic. With Zoom especially, it seems like a new and improved version of the penpal has come back into vogue. Quite different, with live video and audio replacing pen and paper, though the Zoom chat window does give an element of written communication. But curiously, in some ways it’s also the same, with new friends popping into my life from all over the world. I participate in a lot of acting and voiceover classes, webinars, conferences, and meet ups. While the acting classes seem to be fairly well contained within the U.S., the voiceover community is quite global. I’m part of an accountability group that meets monthly, with members living in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. The voiceover conferences, including this past week’s VO Atlanta and the UK-based One Voice conference, attract attendees from all parts of the world. These conference organizers do a great job scheduling the sessions to suit the time zones of as many attendees as possible, which primarily range from the US coast through western Europe. These sessions are also recorded, which gives those in other parts of the world the opportunity to watch them at a later time. I’m thrilled to listen and learn from coaches, industry experts, and other voice actors from all over the globe. Different perspectives, new ways of doing things, unique experiences, and insights into other cultures. Occasionally, I’m the odd American joining a group of Brits or Aussies. Like with my Hawaiian penpal, I find that we have far more in common than we do differences. Except that their accents are far more melodic and intriguing than my own! A few weeks ago, on April 16, I was delighted to have the opportunity to participate in a special podcast that celebrated World Voice Day 2021. My friend Samantha Boffin, who is a highly talented voice actor and promo producer, has a podcast for voiceover directors called “Talking Creative.” Based in the UK herself, Sam reached out to voice actor friends on both sides of the pond to offer advice from the talent’s perspective. Eighteen people contributed, with a few rather funny stories thrown in for good measure. It’s a fascinating podcast, which you can listen to here . This global digital outreach, this new and updated worldwide community, has been a gift of this past year. If anything good can be said to come out of this pandemic experience, it’s the realization that we all desperately need some degree of social connection. Whether it’s comparing local lockdown rules, how we’re each coping with restrictions, or the ebbs and flows of our businesses, we recognize our shared experience and support one another as we struggle through this bizarre time. Really not so dissimilar from how, all those years ago, girls from all around the world helped each other get through the shared difficult teen years. Like my penpals, many of these connections may fade away as we eventually return to our more ‘normal” lives. But a few will remain. After all, despite the decades that have passed since we first met (and I’m not saying how many!), Ona and I still communicate, though this time through Facebook. She’s now living in Guam (even more exotic to me than Hawaii!), while I’m living in Atlanta, the Peach State – something I can finally hang my hat on, when it comes to sending gifts. Even Cleveland, formerly known as “the mistake on the lake,” has cleaned itself up, finally becoming the attractive city that it always could have been. Just goes to show that there’s a silver lining in every cloud. And occasionally, miracles DO happen.

Adapt to Change or Get Out of the Game "The only constant in life is change." – Heraclitus, Greek philosopher The ancient Greeks knew it. Founding Father Benjamin Franklin knew it, too, though he put it this way: “ When you are finished changing, you are finished. ” - Benjamin Franklin You gotta love old Ben’s sense of humor. But it’s true! Universally, nothing stays the same and those who fail to adapt will, at best, be left behind. “All failure is failure to adapt, all success is successful adaptation.” - writer and business consultant Max McKeown The American entertainment industry changes at a rapid pace; nothing is static. It’s governed by the tastes of the public and seeks to reflect everyday American life. Or at least our values, which show up in genres like science fiction and fantasy. We even see modern day sensibilities echoed in period pieces, either with diversity in casting or a character’s perspective that seems ahead of its time. The changes can become vastly accelerated with abrupt changes in our society. Take the last year for example. With a nod to Henny Youngman, “Take the last year … please!” Just think of the changes our society has experienced in the past year! A global pandemic that has affected every individual, every segment of society. Protests and social unrest that all too often have escalated into violent confrontations. Political power shifting at the highest level of our government with a vastly different set of policies and priorities than its predecessor. These are all stories waiting to be told – and would have been already told, if productions hadn’t been shut down by the pandemic. When the floodgates reopen to new content, expect countless themes on our lockdown experiences. We may all be sick to death (no pun intended) of the events of this past year, but our society has been profoundly affected, and these changes will be explored on all levels, from the global on down to the personal experience for the rest of this decade. At least. Those of us who work in the entertainment industry know that the world doesn’t need calamitous events to get the wheels moving. TV, film, theater – these are artistic pursuits, molded by unique temperaments and creative expressions, that march to their own drummers. Even if they seem to march in step as an industry as a whole, especially in response to societal changes. On a personal level, even in the quietest of times, change is a fact of everyday life for an actor. You never know what auditions will show up on any given day or – oh, joy! – what bookings you’ll land. Conversely, you also can’t predict what dry spells you’ll experience or even why. You learn to go with the flow, not putting weight on any one opportunity until it truly manifests. Every audition is a type of “catch and release” – you learn to quickly understand and master a scene, creating a small work of art by auditioning to the best of your ability … and then letting it go. There’s no point in dwelling on what may happen with the audition, because most times you’ll hear nothing back unless you’re invited for a callback or you book the job. Much is out of your control. Newbies to the business are taught early to regard their acting career as a “marathon, not a sprint.” It takes many years to train and become established in the business, with a multitude of disappointments and setbacks before becoming a working actor – one who can support himself through acting jobs alone – with no guarantee of success. While there are exceptions, most “discovered” actors have actually been slaving away at lower levels of the industry for many years, learning their craft, building connections, and creating a growing body of work. The entertainment industry, and the life of an actor in particular, is a study in change and motion. Besides seeming like a marathon, an acting career can be a wild roller coaster ride. Some see it as one long, slow ascent, culminating in a euphoric rush when an exceptional role is won. Others see it as a long cycle of ups and downs. Still others envision it as a mad rush to places unknown, with twists and turns, and unpredictable speeds and slowdowns. Whatever your metaphor, know what you’re getting into and be sure to buckle up, because one thing it’s not is your grandma’s slow, predictable boat ride. As a performer, opportunities do run hot and cold. (Don’t worry, I’m not about to launch into a new series of plumbing metaphors!) Sometimes auditions, callbacks, and bookings are coming fast and furious. Your type is in demand and there are plenty of roles for which you may be a perfect fit. And then there are other times when it’s “crickets” – nothing is happening and you may feel like you’ll never have a chance to work again. It could be due to societal or industry changes, as presently with the clarion call to increase diversity in casting. Greater opportunities for those who were marginalized before, not so much for others who were considered mainstream and more often cast. It could be that you fit one type of character, let’s say a gritty independent outdoorsy sort, and the industry has moved on to embrace light-hearted comedies. Or you may have moved on to another stage of your life and are between types, such as being older than what’s considered “a mom type” but younger than what is expected in “a grandma type.” I’ve heard working actors say that, throughout their careers, there have been many different periods when they seemed much more in demand. They fit the look or type that resonated with the trend of the day. They looked the part of the young champion, the popular idea of a good dad, the ideal of a competent business executive. And then after years of relative inactivity, they aged into certain roles that they hadn’t quite meshed with so well before and began working more than ever. So what can you do as an actor about it? Unless you create your own content, there is little to control beyond preparing yourself by constantly training your acting chops, extending your capabilities, or trying new mediums (like voice over!). Live life as an active human being, interested in the people and events around you. Life experiences complete you as a person and make you more interesting in turn. You pick up new skills, perspectives, and understanding. And all these things can make you far more castable than someone who simply pines for busier days and does nothing in the interim. So – and this goes for everyone - change along with everything else! Evolve and grow. Stagnation is death. And last I checked, there’s not much of a call for a lifeless body. That’s what the props department is for.

Running Your Business According to Old MacDonald My maiden name isn’t McDonald. Or even MacDonald. And neither is my married name. But if either were … oh boy! I’d have a fun time creating a version of the children’s song to fit my voiceover business. It has nothing to do with the animals or the sounds they make, in case you think I’m especially capable of mooing, bleating, barking, etc. I’m definitely not. So please don’t ask me, unless you’re a very sweet and adorable pre-schooler. In which case, you wouldn’t be reading this blog. And if you were, I’d be so impressed, I’d do my best to entertain you by conjuring up as many different silly voices as I could to go with the farm animal of your choice. I’m more of a corporate gal by way of background, courtesy of over fifteen years as an IT sales exec. I speak tech, geek, acronym, and “obscure and curious marketing catch phrase.” I also speak plainly and directly (in a very nice way, of course) as an extension of my open and honest work ethic. Which brings me to the whole E-I-E-I-O business. In my experience, successful companies have their core values, mission statements, goals, and measurable results. At least they should, and if they don’t, then they’ll eventually realize how much they need them. (Can you tell I spent a bit of time working for the Fortune 500? ) As an entrepreneur, I’ve brought that structure to my own voiceover business. An entrepreneur’s business is often a pretty fair reflection of the person behind it. It’s built upon your ideas, ideals, hopes and dreams, and sometimes driven by your personal fears. For me, it’s a culmination and integration of my love of communications, personal creativity, performance, and business operations – all rolled into one tangible service that expresses much of who I am and what I can offer. And entertaining toddlers aside, E-I-E-I-O pretty well describes the core values behind my voiceover business. Before I get into the “business speak,” let me first give you a brief guided tour of my voiceover farm, so you can see what lives there. Instead of cows, chickens, goats, and the like, there’s corporate narration, eLearning for both adults and kids, and explainer videos. Oh, and running around like they own the place are the commercials for all sorts of media. The TV variety are what most people recognize on their first visit, but those pre-roll animated advertisements on the internet are often the most fun to watch and they can get a little wild, so be careful where you step. Keeping to themselves within their own pens are the different breeds of telephony: the outgoing IVR (greetings and phone trees), the on-hold messaging which love to chatter to themselves non-stop, and the automated assistants, which are a bit robotic by nature. Then there’s all sorts of character voices that flit around the farm like so many spastic birds. You never know where they’re going to land (or poop) and sometimes they move so fast it’s hard to keep track of them. And finally, there’s the sensible medical narration to balance the seemingly schizophrenic character voices. You’ll find ol’ MN copiously noting the tiniest details of farm operations, ready at any moment to espouse on them at great length, sort of like Christopher Robin’s wise old Owl. Overall, it’s a noisy and active place, but it keeps the farmhand busy (that’s me!) and happy. And it’s up to me to keep the animals in check and away from turning everything into a human-free Animal Farm. So many entrepreneurs can get swallowed up by the tiniest details and want to run away. As the business owner, I keep order and the farm running in the black with core values and common sense business practices. Now THIS is where E-I-E-I-O comes in. It’s a pretty simple concept, not a jumble of business practices that have been reworked a bajillion times by expensive consultants who like to write books. In the words of one of my character tracks, “Ya get what ya pay for!” and a whole lot more. It’s the whole “exceeding expectations” and “delivering outstanding customer service” that I cut my teeth on working for IBM and a bunch of tech start-ups. Plus the enthusiasm of a small business owner who absolutely loves her work and partnering with her clients. It’s my work ethic. And this is how I break it down: E – Excellence Always delivering the very best product that you (my client) want, expect, and need. And for especially creative projects, going just a little bit farther to surprise you with additional options that you may not have considered. Excellence means that the skills, training, and experience are in place and ready to be applied by a dedicated professional who knows how to best use them. And most importantly, that this excellence is highly valued by said professional who stands by his or her work and takes no shortcuts. When mistakes are made (as invariably happens when humans are involved), excellence means taking immediate steps to own up to them and correct them. ASAP. I tell my clients that I’m happy when they’re happy – and THAT’S when the job is complete. I - Integrity Who I am as a person and, by extension, as a business woman. For me, that’s open and honest communications and business practices, providing you with fair rates, top notch service, and an easy-to-do-business-with mentality to help you meet your deadlines. Even rush requests, when they can be accommodated. Integrity is standing behind both the promised excellence and my professional and personal reputations. It’s doing what needs to be done, as contracted and as expected. It’s offering referrals to other qualified, talented voice actors, if it turns out that I’m not the best fit for your project. Essentially, integrity is living and working with strong moral principles, and doing the right thing regardless of circumstances. E - Efficiency I was born with a list in my hand! Ultra organized, detail-oriented, and mindful to beating deadlines by a wide margin. Efficiency doesn’t mean cutting corners on quality! It’s knowing and understanding client requirements, asking questions (like proper pronunciations) up front, and doing the job right the first time. My efficiency honors YOUR deadlines and the commitments you’ve made to your clients, helping you put your best foot forward to secure happy, satisfied customers. In the corporate world, you learn quickly that you’ll do well when you help make your boss look good. The same goes to helping your clients look good to THEIR clients. I – imagination Creativity unleashed within the scope of your project’s tone and intention. You want a unique voice to grab the attention of viewers of your creative venture, customers for your product or service. Yes, you may want the standard read that listeners are expecting, but maybe, just maybe, you want to surprise them in unexpected ways. Voice over is not reading a script, it’s immersing oneself as an actor in the message, telling a story from the perspective of someone sharing a thought or experience as it’s being lived. Imagination is crucial to the storytelling, providing interesting alternative choices and bringing your project to life. Not to mention it’s a lot of fun on the VO talent’s side! O – Oh, Joy! Underneath all creative work should be an element of joy. A sense of play, positivity, fun. People intuitively connect with the spirit of a thing, whether it’s the compassion and concern within a healthcare message, the mischievous wink-of-an-eye behind an animated explainer, or the excitement coloring a toy commercial. Most projects are focused on providing a positive experience for their intended audiences, so that they will be entertained, inclined to purchase, or motivated to learn. The creative artists need to evoke those qualities within themselves in order to bring them to their work. No problem here! Like many voice actors, I’m doing what I love. Enjoying the work, seeing it as an element of creative play, identifying with the story, and happily applying my training and experience to bring your message to life. The joyful spirit, the right intention, is already in place. Look for people who love what they do - and your team building will be that much easier! In other words: Go the extra mile. Do what you say and mean what you do. Be a good person. Do your best. And have fun! Silly animal voices optional.

Definitely Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places It’s bad enough on Facebook. But when did Leisure Suit Larry start showing up on LinkedIn? For those who don’t know the reference, Leisure Suit Larry was the lead character in a series of video games about a balding, obnoxious man in his 40s who went to great lengths to seduce attractive young women. His ammo was a leisure suit from the 70s disco era and plenty of double-entendres. He wasn’t very successful. Fast forward to the age of social media, and Larry’s persona has been taken up by older guys with an Internet connection around the world. They’re usually found on Facebook, where they’re easily identified because their friend request shows at most only one or two connections, they have almost no posting history (or it’s the same photo repeated half a dozen times), and they self-identify as a doctor, business executive, or military general. Sometimes the photos they use look suspiciously like stock photos you’ve seen elsewhere … or used by other wannabe Larrys. Now, I’m no sweet young thing and haven’t been for many, many years. So it astounds me how many friend requests I get on Facebook from one variety of Larry or another. Poor guys, they must be desperate, wrangling for any female connection they can get in any part of the world. I wonder how successful any of them can be, that they continue to do this from thousands of miles away in the middle of a pandemic. Do they really expect anything to happen? Hmmm… perhaps a few are instead just scamsters, using flattery and lavishing attention on naïve or lonely women to wrangle away their money…. I typically delete the friend request as soon as I spot it, but in the name of research for this blog, I actually replied to the introductory “hello” from a few Larrys. Had to see if anything has changed over the past few years. Nope. Sure enough, it was the same old schtick. All it took was one simple “hello” back before the Larry started asking personal questions. The type that you simply don’t ask someone you don’t know. These exchanges usually came to a sudden halt when I replied that I was happily married with kids, “just in case you’re going down that road.” Sometimes, though, you just have to unfriend and block the more persistent Romeos. Larrys pop up on Instagram, too, but I’ve been surprised (and rather disappointed) to see them occasionally showing up on LinkedIn. Come on now! Facebook and Instagram, I can understand; most people use them to share their personal lives. But LinkedIn is for business networking! And the majority of users – and practically all women, I think - want to keep it that way. I’ve talked to women of all ages about this Larry phenomena. And we’ve all experienced it, on one platform or another. We kind of expect it on most other social media platforms, but we’re all in agreement that it just doesn’t belong on LinkedIn. It’s the one social media forum that you’d think was the least likely for Larrys to lurk. Don’t you suppose that the Larrys would look for easier, more naïve, and less suspecting prey than business and other professional women on LinkedIn? Maybe we’re just giving the Larrys too much credit in the reasoning department. Or perhaps the Larrys figure that women who network for business are too busy to have invested in their personal lives and thus are eagerly receptive to their digital catcalls. In our dreams, one day we’ll each have a Larry detector attached to our profiles, so that LinkedIn automatically reroutes each and every Larry to Tinder, where they can happily swipe right to their hearts’ content. In the meantime, I guess we’ll just keep our fingers poised over the delete key. And talk about how the pickup lines never change, the delivery just evolves with the times.

Optimism Rediscovered I feel like I’m writing a chapter in the Star Wars saga: A New Hope. It sounds cliché and even a bit corny, but it’s in the air and I’m not the only pandemic-weary home warrior sensing it. We’ve just rounded the corner on the vernal equinox, set our clocks ahead one hour, and more and more of us are getting vaccinated. Hoorah! Spring is the season of fresh life, new beginnings, more daytime hours, and venturing outdoors and seeking others out. If you’re living in Atlanta like I am, it’s also the pollen season. Any day now, I expect to see a shower of yellow pine pollen descending from the newly budded trees, coating everything in sight with one of our biggest allergy triggers of the year. Oh, well. That’s what the garden hose is for. I don’t mind the yellowing of everything caught outdoors. Not this year. What’s a few weeks of an itchy nose compared with a year of being stuck at home? It’s like the awful allergic and incredibly itchy red rash I suffered over my entire body for a few weeks when I was a teen, when I didn’t know that I was allergic to penicillin and was using a LOT of it to fight off a double whammy of mononucleosis and bronchitis. Mosquito bites afterwards seemed a much more minor nuisance and never itched quite as much in comparison. So I’ll stock up on the allergy medicine and the Kleenex. ‘Cause it’s still spring! And the kids have come out to play in droves. This afternoon, my neighborhood held a socially-distanced spring fling in our community park for the kiddos to celebrate the coming of the Easter bunny, with an egg hunt, the mandatory and very messy egg toss, your standard teen-in-a-giant-Easter bunny suit posing for photos, and even a small petting zoo, with a rabbit, several goats, a turtle, and even a baby llama. Don’t know where they found the llama, but it was hanging out nonchalantly with the goats. Interesting, all the animals were vying for the spots in the middle of their pens to keep out of reach of the more enthusiastic toddlers. Smart animals. The kids had a blast. The older ones and the teens decided that it was already summer and were running around in tshirts and shorts, despite the decidedly nippy air. Reminded me of this time back in college, when a somewhat warmer day would suddenly give some of the girls the idea that sunbathing season had started. This year, more than most, everyone just wants to accelerate the progression of time and hurry further into the year when it’ll be warm, sunny, and eventually– we hope! – pandemic-free. That sense of hope is definitely in the air. Especially now that my husband and I have received our second of the two vaccination shots. Fortunately, the only side effects were our sore arms where the injections were given. A small price to pay, and I consider ourselves very lucky. A close friend had a horrible time with her second shot and was sick for a few days, and I’ve heard of others feeling poorly even after the first one. Just goes to show that, like the virus itself, everyone’s body is different and we’re not able to tell who will be affected and who will be able to shrug these things off. One thing, though, that I have been able to tell is that most people, my family and I included, have been a lot healthier this fall and winter season than any other. Not surprisingly, it’s due to keeping our distance from others, washing our hands thoroughly and repeatedly like we’ve always should, and having surfaces in common areas like grocery stores constantly wiped down. We certainly don’t miss the colds, flus, or sore throats. The sense of hope and a return to “normal” is showing up in the on-camera and voice over auditions, too. Atlanta film/TV production is in full swing and I’ve been thrilled to audition for so many projects this month. The voice over auditions are having more and more of an upbeat tone than in previous months, too. Call me an optimist, but I think these are all exciting signs that we are turning a corner on recovering from this pandemic. And once it becomes clear, watch out! Just like the Roaring 20s followed the Spanish flu pandemic, we’ll see a flurry of retail activity, travel, and good times that we’ll think we’re in the middle of one long New Year’s Eve party. We can only hope so. 

Breathing in Fresh Air and Human Connections A social outing! With real people outside the family! In the sunshine, no less. It's been a long year. A year of fear, worry, frustration, and more negative adjectives than I have time to write. All amidst health scares, economic hardships, record unemployment, social unrest, and shutdown after shutdown. The pandemic is not over by any means, but with the vaccines, we're all seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. And for the first time in a year, it's not the headlight of an oncoming train. For me last Sunday, it was the bright sunshine on an unusually warm late winter afternoon. I guess when the temperature hits the high 70s, I should really call it early spring, no matter what the calendar says. Either way, it was heavenly to be outside on a gorgeous day ... and with other people, no less. Heresy? I think not. Fresh air plus social distancing equals a fine afternoon. I joined with the Georgia Entertainment Sports League , founded by casting director Brian Beegle, for a walk and yoga class along a section of Atlanta's developing Beltline. These are walkable trails through city parks that will eventually connect the neighborhoods in a circle around Atlanta. Paved pathways, bridges over babbling brooks, stone steps to smaller paths to explore, playgrounds and picnic tables - all within a canopy of green. Everyone was out! Kids, dogs, joggers, walkers of all ages and ability, cyclists ... you name it. For nearly an hour, we walked along the paths before we found an open grassy knoll. Gathering in a circle - six feet apart from one another - we spread out our towels and enjoyed a wonderful yoga class taught by Brian's fiancé and master yoga instructor, Cari Moskow. I'm more of a Pilates gal than a yoga afficionado, but the gentle stretching felt wonderful in all that sunshine. Best of all, this was time to meet and socialize with other people, other actors, musicians, and creatives who had also joined the GESL. It was truly a reminder that we are all social creatures. After a year of isolation, it was exhilarating just to connect with other folks outside of a Zoom session. Yes, the walk and yoga class were highly enjoyable, but the social interaction was what our souls needed most. It also goes to show that actors aren't purely the attention-seeking, spotlight-craving creatures that so many assume we are. Well ... at least not entirely. We're storytellers, reflecting humanity on itself. Acting is about seeking out the truth in human relationships and exposing it for all its worth: the vulnerable moments, the flaws within everyone, the stories that we create just by living our lives. We can't create compelling characters and tell these stories without experiencing these very human moments ourselves. And it's pretty darn hard to experience these moments when we're isolated from one another for a long periods of time. Imagination takes us far, but ultimately - like everyone else - we need to be with others to rejuvenate our spirits. Last Sunday was a very human moment out in the sunshine, connecting with others eye to eye, and sharing stories of our year in virtual lockup and our hopes for the coming seasons. If nothing else, it proved (at least to me!) that light, hope, and sunshine are intrinsically more powerful to our true selves than the draw of any man-made spotlight.

A Little Love Goes a Long Way I confess. I have a long, deep-rooted love affair with chocolate. And I come by it honestly. My mother always planned her dinners around desserts. Brownies? Then it must be Marzetti Monday. And Mom always had at least one dessert per dinner. More, if it were a special occasion. Chocolate is good for the soul, if not for the waistline. Or hips. It works! Just ask any woman. I don’t know why that is, but many of us would agree that it translates to a whole lot of love in all its forms. Liquid love in a chocolate martini. A pick-me-up inside a chocolate mousse. And a big hug via a piece or two (or three) of fudge. We can talk about the chemical properties of chocolate and the pleasure centers of the brain it stimulates. But I’d rather just share a yummy recipe that goes all the way back to my earliest memories. Brownies. Ahhh. Just the name conjures up warm gooeyness and smells of freshly-baked, heartwarming goodness. Brownies go hand in hand with chocolate chip cookies. A staple of American youth. It’s my firm belief that one is never be too old to enjoy them. Stores may sell brownie bites and caterers may offer up delectable variations, but old-fashioned, home-baked brownies served up warm from the oven just can’t be beat. Ice cream on top? Or chocolate sauce drizzled all over? Perhaps as the base for an ice cream sundae? Take your pick. You can’t go wrong any which way. They’ll all bring a grin to your face and maybe even a happy memory or two. So in the spirit of sharing a bit of love, here’s a favorite, made-from-scratch recipe to hang your chocolate-lovin’ hat on: Laura’s Favorite Homemade Brownies ½ cup Crisco (or other) vegetable shortening 2 oz. chocolate (buy the baking chocolate that’s precut into squares) ¾ cup flour ½ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 2 eggs, well beaten 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup nuts (optional) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a small pot, melt Crisco and baking chocolate over hot water. (To do this, ideally you’ll have a pot that has an interior, removable pan that sits inside, secured above the bottom of the pot. Fill the bottom of the pot to a depth of ¼” inch or so of water. Bring the water to a boil, then set the interior pan with the baking chocolate and spry inside of it. You’ll see when the melting takes place. As an alternative, you can use a microwave instead of the pot/pan combo. Just nuke gently until the chocolate melts.) Remove to a spot to cool. While it cools, mix the flour with the baking powder and salt. Beat the eggs until they’re light and frothy, then add the sugar, the cooled chocolate mixture, and blend thoroughly. Add the flour, the vanilla, and the optional nuts and mix well. Pour the brownie batter into a greased 8x8 baking pan. Bake for 25 minutes. Let it cool enough to cut and serve. And then enjoy! You’re welcome. Oh, and don’t forget to lick the beaters, bowl, and mixing spoon. If that doesn’t bring back memories of being a kid, then I can only sympathize for your childhood deprivation. But remember, it’s never too late to start. 

What Works, What Doesn’t, & What It’s Really Like Like every other on-camera actor, I wondered what it would be like filming again while this pandemic continues to plague us all. Those of us who are active in the Georgia film industry are very thankful that our community is one of the first in the U.S. to emerge from so much suspended production, albeit with many safeguards in place. These past several months, I’ve been able to experience first-hand what it’s like working on set during Covid. I’ve recently been on both union (SAG-AFTRA) and non-union sets for a commercial, an industrial (a short film shown only within the hiring company), and a print job. All three sets were in compliance with Covid safety guidelines, although they each did so a little differently. For example, in testing for Covid, the non-union industrial took a blood draw via finger prick, which provided immediate results. The other two jobs required the standard nasal swab at a testing facility they had contracted for that purpose; results were available within 24 hours. The non-union industrial had me and my scene partner in and out within 90 minutes. Very convenient and efficient from the actor’s perspective! And more the exception than the rule. The other two were full day shoots. Here’s what that first experience on set was like back in the fall of 2020: I was booked for an industrial shoot for a major credit services corporation. Upon hearing the good news from my agent, I immediately wondered what testing or quarantine requirements would be required. I certainly hoped for a simple Covid test and, fortunately, that’s all I had to complete before showing up on set the following day. The production company made it very easy, too. An on-site testing facility was made available to cast and crew at no charge, with the production people on hand to see us through the process. I jumped in the car and drove 20 minutes to their location and was in and out within half an hour. I was expecting the “Roto-Rooter” nostril treatment – and honestly, not looking forward to having my nasal cavities intensely swiped. Instead, a couple of friendly nurses were on hand to prick a finger and draw blood. And no waiting! I had my results, certified on paper, within ten minutes. Easy peasy! After emailing the production coordinator a picture of my rapid test result, I was approved to show up on set the next morning. The instructions were emailed to me shortly afterwards. In addition to the talent release forms and call sheet, the production company sent a two page list of Covid protocols for everyone to acknowledge and sign. The stipulations were rather straightforward and not at all surprising: Frequent hand-washing and use of disinfectants. Social distancing of six feet applied to all crew members and to actors not immediately on camera. We were to wear masks all the time, except when being filmed. Actors not on set would be kept far from the crew and, to a lesser extent, from each other. And, of course, the temperature checks. As with all kinds of businesses and retailers everywhere, there was a production representative at the door to test the temperatures of each individual upon arrival to set. Anyone registering a temperature of 100.4 or higher was to be sent home. (Fortunately, there were no incidents.) Hair and makeup were handled a little differently, too, but not by much. Pre-Covid, while the larger productions would ask actors to come bare-faced and proceed directly to hair and makeup, many others would request that actors do their own before arriving on set. Now, during Covid, actors are being asked more often to do their own hair and makeup prior to arrival. I’m perfectly happy with that rule, since I know my way around a cosmetic counter and styling tools. This production still had a hair and makeup artist on set, but mostly for touchups throughout the shoot and to help select the outfits that we’d wear on camera. It’s typical for commercial and industrial shoots to ask actors to bring several sets of their own clothing for production to approve. Sometimes they like photos sent ahead of time, so they can pick and choose without the actor needing to bring a large suitcase full of options. This shoot had a very fast turnaround, so they just specified the types and colors of clothing they wanted to see. As I was playing part of a husband and wife team, they coordinated our “looks.” It was to be a casual setting, with blue as the hubby’s assigned base color and red as mine. Since I’d done this sort of thing before, I knew to wear my favorite combination of what they were looking for and just bring along the rest. Sure enough, they were happy with what I had on and I didn’t need to change. Food on set can be anything, from doughnuts and pizza (usually student or very low budget independent films) to lavish buffets complete with chefs at carving stations for major studio productions. Gone! At least, during Covid. Actors know now to expect any meals and snacks to be provided in single, pre-wrapped portions. Sure enough, this production specified that only limited catering would be provided and served in single portions. I wasn’t too concerned, since I figured the shoot would last just the morning or maybe, at most, a little into the lunch hour. Just in case, though, I brought along some of my own food, a couple bottles of water, and a canister of my favorite hot chai tea. As a vegetarian, I can’t always count on what catering may provide, so it’s easiest to have my own supply with me. As it turned out, food was never even an issue, because the shoot went so quickly. An actor’s dream! Thanks to Covid, production had staggered each actor’s call time, so we could arrive close to our actual shoot schedule. As my “hubby” and I were the first to be filmed that day, it wasn’t much of a problem, but we both appreciated that production wanted to minimize the time that actors were on set to better comply within the Covid guidelines. Worked for me! We were in and out in less than 90 minutes. The only possible exposure to Covid would have come from the actor playing my husband, and possibly from me to him. Our scenes had us interacting closely, studying plans together and walking hand-in-hand. Not that either scene took long; the director was happy after just a few takes each. And neither the other actor nor myself were concerned. We had both been tested, had our temperatures checked, and spent minimal time together. It was highly unlikely that either of us would have transmitted a virus to each other. And truthfully, if either of us were that worried about it, we wouldn’t have accepted the booking in the first place. As it turned out, we were both perfectly fine. All in all, filming during Covid was as normal as possible. Aside from the testing and on set precautions, there was very little different about it. The only real worry was if wearing a mask would ruin our makeup. But if so, we had a talented hair and makeup artist on hand for last minute fixes or touch-ups. Nothing to be concerned about. The shoot was actually a very positive experience. That’s what comes from having a skilled producer and crew, strong direction, and plenty of pre-planning. Actually, I think the biggest challenges faced during Covid are not on set, but in the steps leading up to a booking. Auditions are now on tape, rather than (as often was the case) in person. The challenge comes from the actor needing to learn the basics of lighting, sound, photography, and video editing – in addition to learning and performing the material. The actor has been challenged to set up a home taping studio of sorts, with solid backdrops, box lights for filming, and an appropriate camera and microphone (or smart phone) on a tripod, not to mention knowing how to edit the taped audition scene(s) and slate, package them up, and submit them electronically to casting within a tight deadline. That’s a lot to have thrown at you, especially if you’ve never done any of it before. Those of us in the Southeast have had it easier than our colleagues in LA or New York; our market has requested self-tapes for years. Still, it can be quite a challenge, since many actors preferred to go to local taping services that had provided everything, including someone to read the other characters’ lines in our scenes. Now, the challenge is on us to do it all ourselves, including finding a good reader who could help us remotely in our auditions. Thank you, Zoom! You’ve helped actors help each other by connecting through your free service. Another significant challenge presented by Covid could be a mandated long quarantine period prior to showing up on set. This could be especially challenging for actors with spouses, young children, or older family members requiring care, or those who have regular jobs outside the industry. Actors need to decide for themselves – and discuss with their agents – what they can or cannot do, so that they audition only for those jobs that they can realistically accept. Every production, every set has its own guidelines to protect everyone involved. My other two bookings were even more careful than the first. The non-union print job was for a quick oil change franchise, and their Covid safety precautions were quite impressive! Upon check-in, the other actors and I were directed to a table with four Covid safety compliance officers, who conducted temperature checks and gave each of us our own plastic inflatable booth (including a chair) to sit in outdoors while we waited to be called. We were each issued buckets containing sanitizer, a mask, and a plastic face shield to wear without a mask on our way to and from set; this was for hair and makeup to verify our “looks” and to avoid unnecessary smudging of makeup. As with the industrial shoot, actors were situated far from crew and drinks, meals, and snacks were carefully wrapped and packaged for each individual. Everything proceeded efficiently, with actors remaining in our plastic bubbles whenever we weren’t needed. The setup was actually quite comfortable – and certainly a novel experience. The union commercial set followed strict check-in protocols and temperature checks outside. Once everyone was cleared, we were allowed indoors, albeit actors were assigned individual spaces in a large room to wait to be called. Chairs were provided, of course, and a cantina was set up for everyone to approach – one at a time – a cordoned-off conference room in which assigned staff would pass us hot and cold beverages and even plate snacks for us. No buffet during Covid! Lunchtime was outside, with hot meals served from food service trucks and picnic tables for us to use. Again, perfectly comfortable and not terribly different from working on set during non-pandemic times. What we didn’t see was the sanitization sweeps that were made from scene to scene, wiping down everything that an actor or crew member had touched before the next group of people were called to set. SAG-AFTRA requires its productions to follow many more rules than its non-union counterparts, but all did what was necessary to get the job done. Yes, many more rules to follow, more people and equipment to hire, more time needed to get everything done. BUT … while productions suffered increased budgets and extended shoot schedules to accommodate these precautions, at least these projects were going forward, instead of being indefinitely postponed or cancelled. And I think many would agree that it‘s much better and healthier for us to work and exercise our creativity in our chosen fields than to sit isolated in our homes for months on end. We just have to hang in there a little longer and follow those guidelines that will help see us through the pandemic cycle. Like anything else, this too shall pass.

The Invisible People 2020 was the Year of the Pandemic. (Well, the first year, anyways.) It was also the kickstart year in calling for greater inclusion and diversity in all dimensions of our society. Affirmative action is the precursor initiative to the present-day call to action. Many of today’s older workers remember it being staunchly in place in corporate America since the early 1980s. In fact, affirmative action had appeared two decades earlier. While the concept of affirmative action has existed in America since the 19th century, it first appeared in its current form in President Kennedy's Executive Order 10925 (1961): "The contractor will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin." – Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School Higher education has also been a strong proponent of inclusion and diversity, actively looking for new students who are not only underrepresented minorities, but also first generation Americans, students who are first in their families to attend college, international students, and those from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. Within corporate America, however, one group has consistently been shunted off to the side. Ageism is alive and well, despite efforts to prevent it. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) forbids age discrimination against people who are age 40 or older. (Yes, a 40 year old is considered an older worker!) But when older workers lose their jobs through no fault of their own - from corporate layoffs, bankruptcies, or other reasons beyond their control - it’s particularly difficult for those over 55 to find new jobs that are anywhere comparable in pay or opportunity to the jobs they had lost. And when they do find something, it often takes them much longer than their younger colleagues. And much too often with a large pay cut. Older people in general tend to become invisible to most of society, with increasing irrelevance marching in lockstep with each passing year. Women, specifically, take the brunt of it. Forbes Magazine speaks of the “ double whammy ” of ageism coupled with sexism that women over 50 receive in the workplace. A recent study, entitled “ Is it Harder for Older Workers to Find Jobs ? ” from The National Bureau of Economic Research, reports that “physical appearance matters more for women” since “age detracts more from physical appearance for women than for men.” Who is really surprised by this? Not the dermatologists who have their patient lists filled with older women looking for Botox and filler treatments. Sorry, guys. The ladies aren’t getting these treatments just to look better to you. I have both friends and family members who are caught in the vise of ageism. Unemployed through layoffs, they tell me that that prospective employers are interested in their credentials and accomplishments … until they meet in person. Nothing is said that would put the business at risk of a lawsuit for age discrimination, but these older workers hear the subtext. The explanations from the company inevitably are some combination of “you’re overqualified for the position” and “we can’t match your previous salary.” Even when the applicant is willing to take a cut in pay, fewer jobs materialize than for similar, younger candidates. Those who do receive offers and accept these positions often report that they did so at the expense of their salaries; many take pay cuts of 35-50%. Six to twelve months of unemployment and dozens of fruitless interviews can realign expectations. Many at this point are just happy to be employed, and hoping to remain so until retirement age. Especially as relatively few can afford to quit working altogether. I’ve had these conversations enough recently to know that the problem has only been exacerbated with Covid, with so many businesses being particularly hard hit. Inevitably, my friends and I end up comparing our experiences over the past five or so years. Their corporate experience: No surprise there. The corporate world provides the opportunity for steady employment, upward mobility, and financial security. Not to mention medical benefits! But it can also leave its employees high and dry, with only a short term safety net, should the business run into trouble. Or if it restructures itself due to an acquisition or merger. Or simply streamlines itself for greater profitability. Younger workers usually have a much easier time rebounding into new positions elsewhere. So the going is great until … it’s not. In contrast, artists like myself deal with unpredictability every day, and a typically uncertain financial earning power. We, however, may derive immense personal satisfaction from our artistic pursuits, which may outweigh economic benefits from more traditional career path. And we can continue working as independent artists for as long as possible or desired. Now, in some mediums, such as on camera work, physical aging will definitely reduce demand for the artist (think middle-aged actresses!), but in others, not so much. Or at all. (One of the great advantages to voice over work!) Actually, I have to consider myself very fortunate, enjoying the best of both corporate and artistic worlds. I loved my corporate career in my youth … well, most of the time … and now I’m living my dream as an actress on camera and behind the mic. And while I’m no spring chicken, my voice over work in particular is not suffering for it. On the contrary, I’m finding that life experience and perspective brings much to the roles I audition for and book, whether they’re for film and TV or a corporate video. Being a little “long in the tooth” hasn’t hurt a bit. One of the great things about voice over is that the age that a voice sounds is not tied to the actor’s chronological age. I know quite a few women in their 40s and beyond who do quite well voicing child and teen roles! And instead of being limited to a 5-7 year span of character ages on camera, there is no hard and fast rule limiting the age range that a voice actor can create. Most voice actors find that they can work within a 20 year span, if not more. While this age range will adjust with the actor over time – voices do deepen - it many cases, it still remains rather broad. So what’s the cure for ageism? Our culture is oriented towards youth and beauty, and has for quite some time. Baby boomers thought the perspective might change as their large numbers began moving into the Social Security years. All that brought were more commercials for medical aids. And Viagra. Ageism in the workplace is still a problem, despite legislation to address it. It will not become a priority anytime soon, especially with so many younger folks out of work. And amidst the calls for inclusion and greater diversity in the workplace, older people as a group are again just not a priority. One solution, if the older person can plan for it and afford the shift, is to become your own boss. Take skills well-honed through years of experience and open your own business. Turn a passion or hobby into making some money. Better yet, if you’re not yet the older worker, plan ahead! Think of what you’d like to do in the last ten years before retirement age, should you find yourself involuntarily out of work, and lay the groundwork for a new career. Best of all, save for retirement long before you think you’ll need it. It’s that old “rainy day” fund on steroids. And you’re never too young to start it, even if you can only contribute $5 a week. I’ve noticed that voice over people are among the happiest I’ve met. They’re friendly, helpful to one another, and highly appreciative of their clients. That’s what you get from working for yourself at something you love. I wish everyone could do the same: to be fully in charge of your career, your prospects, and ultimately responsible for your economic future.